Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-20
ANOTHER FIRE
Lays Low the Remaining Buildings of
Oak Grove Seminary.
A Tramp Arrested on Suspicion of Being
the incendiary.

1t seems that Oak Grove Seminary has
some enemy who is determined to destroy it
The school was just beginning to recover
somewhat from the disastrous effects of the
ire of September lst. which destroyed the
academy building and resulted 10 the loss of
human life. The stable and gymnasium
were fitted up for the immediate accommo
dation OF the students, and steps taken towards
the rebuilding of the academy in the spring.
Sunday, about eleven O'Clock. while Mr.. C..
II. Jones. the principal of the seminary, was
in attendance upon the services of the Friends
church, an alarm of fire was given, and the
remaining buildings OF the seminary were
discovered to be in flames. At the time " n
the alarm reached the church Mr.. Jones was
Engaged in Prayer.
The alarm Immediately broke up the
services and the congregation fastened to the
scene of the confagration. Tne most in
tense excitement prevailed The windows
and furnIture of the burning buildings were
entirely consumed The loss was about
81, 900. upon which there was no insurance.
Ii was evident at once that the work was
that of An incendiAry. The services at the
Friends church commenced at TO- 80 A. NJ,
and the fire was discovered about IL A. VI.
so that the fire bug must haye been we'll pre-
pared tor his work and accomplished it
speedily. The fire originated in room which
had boon finished off up stairs AS there
was nothing here which could serve for
kindling the incendiary must have
Brought his own Combustibles.
The rapidity with which the work was ac-
complshed would etm to indicate that it
was done by some one acquainted with the
premises Many wild rumors prevailed about
town. At special town meeting Saturday
afterno N the citiz ms had, by a vote of lis to
IS, instructed their Sci. c; m n to draw an or
der for $1,000 TO go towards the erection of a
new building This vote was tine cause of
considerable feeling among those who had
opposed the appropriation of money for this
purpose. Some thought that this TACT might
have had something to do with the confagra-
ton, bu, this idea was generally discredited.
lady who was passing the buildings a
short time before the fire said she saw
Two Men
going in the direction of the buildings from
the bushes back of them. She paid little at
tention t. them, however, and did not watch to
see where they went Later on the ferryman
at Riverside stated that he had seen a man go
along the track and t lat he was the same
man he had seen Immediately after the first
ire. The man was at once pursued and cap
tured, and carried to the Hall at Getchelps
Corner, where he was closely questioned by
II. c. Burieigh. G. H and c w. Jones 8, State
Superpt, nd t of schools Luce, f. A. Bush
and others H., CAV hi. name as
suttcitf Greenwood
and -t,ted that his home was in Hope, r. 1.
He said that he had come originally from
Lancashire, England, and that lie had been
in this country ten years. He had come to
thi, State the first OF the week and gone to
Waterville, where he started in to work at the
Lockwood Mills Friday morning. Being dis
satisfied with his work, he left Waterville be-
tween seven and eleven O'Clock The man
was considerably excited and frightened and
told a somewhat contradictory story. He
was carried to Waterviile and is now confined
in the lobby there.
Mr.. Geo. Lee of Riverside says he can
identity this man as the same one seen
In Meserve's Orchard
the next day after the fire of September lst.
81 do not think that man is the one who
set that Are" said prominent citizen of Vas
salboro to the Journal man yesterday. when
the guilty man is found, feel confident he
will be a
Resident OF VassaIbOrO."
The seleotmen held private meeting at
Getchell's corner yesterday forenoon to offer
reward for the capture of the incendiary
and t. see about taking other steps for his
apprehension 1t is understood that the case
will be placed in the hands of detective Ira
M. True. Principal Jones is very much dis.
couraged BY this misfortune. This is the
fourth time in his life that he has been
burned out. He is not aware that he has
single personal enemy in the town.
Later.
1t is said that boy who was formerly with
Mr. Jones, and who was hard character, is
suspected of being the incendiary. ''lf that
boy is in this section of the country
remarked well known officer yesterday,
you may be sure that he set both fires " Mr..
Jones is said to have threatened this boy
with the reform school several times, and it
is thought the young fellow would not hest
tate at any thing to revenge himself. Later
are expected in a few days
which it is hoped will go far to discover the
guilty party in these crimes.
Amusements.
CHARLOTTE Russo